Deputy Chief Justice, Justice Richard Buteera
Earlier, the Deputy Chief Justice, Justice Richard Buteera, announced that the Judiciary is set to conduct a three-day National Court Case Census from January 13 to 15, 2025. He made this announcement during a press briefing held at the Court of Appeal in Kampala.
Justice Buteera explained that the Census aims to provide accurate and reliable data across court stations to guide strategic decisions and reforms for improved judicial efficiency and service delivery.
He highlighted that the exercise will cover all types and categories of cases pending at all levels of courts in Uganda as at January 12, 2025. These courts will include the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal/Constitutional Court, High Court Divisions and Circuits, Chief Magistrates' Courts, Magistrates’ Grade I and II Courts.
On the set dates, there will be physical and digital file count, and verification of all pending case files in Court registries.
The DCJ noted that a similar exercise was last conducted in 2015, and was part of a broader effort to address persistent challenges, such as case backlog, limited access to timely justice, and insufficient resource allocation within the Courts.
Justice Buteera also noted that during the three-day census, all court registries will remain open for filing civil pleadings, while criminal charges can also be filed, and that courts may take pleas. "Courts will not fix cases for hearing on those three days of the census, where cases had earlier been fixed, new hearing dates will be given to parties and all stakeholders such as Uganda Prisons Service, The Attorney General, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocates among others," he said.
This shall be done prior to the Census dates.
He highlighted that the objectives of the exercise include ascertaining the state of cases in Uganda’s Courts, strengthening Judiciary's capacity to manage cases efficiently through data collection, analysis, and the implementation of technology, as well as identifying areas of inefficiency and bottlenecks within the current case management system and provide recommendations for improvements.
The Census will also develop data-driven policy recommendations to improve court case management and reduce backlog as well as support the development of an efficient, effective and accountable case management system, which will support the strategic goals of the Judiciary.
The Deputy Chief Justice also outlined the census methodology, which will involve physical and digital file counts and verification of pending case files in court registries. He noted that courts equipped with electronic systems like ECCMIS and Court Case Management System (CCAS) will use these tools to capture correct data, while a customized data capturing tool will be used for courts without case management information systems.
He added that the outcome of the exercise will be compiled into a comprehensive report. And that the report will be discussed by different stakeholders and the public.
Responding to questions raised by members of the press, Justice Buteera said the Judiciary is working to digitalize how it handles cases. He shared that during a recent visit to Tanzania, he observed Tanzania’s Judiciary digital system which tracks cases in real time and helps address case backlog. He added that the Judiciary is studying such similar systems to improve efficiency and reduce bottlenecks.
He explained that the upcoming census will provide detailed data to guide administrative decisions, such as deployment of judicial officers based on workload.
Justice Buteera also noted that the exercise will mainly be conducted by judicial officers. He called upon court users and the general public to support the Census and urged the press to help raise awareness through media and digital platforms.
HW Mary Kisakye Kaitesi, the Registrar Magistrates Affairs and Data Management, representing the Chief Registrar, explained how the census teams will operate. She noted that the exercise will not be office-based but will involve field visits to verify the existence of case files.
She noted that the teams will consist of members from the Case Management Committee, which is chaired by the Deputy Chief Justice. The teams will be organized based on High Court Circuits, with each team responsible for covering the High Court and all subordinate courts within its assigned circuit.
The briefing was attended by HW Allan Gakyaro, Personal Assistant to the Deputy Chief Justice, and members of the press.
The Briefing was moderated by the Judiciary Public Relations Officer, HW James Ereemye Jumire Mawanda.
Posted 7th, January 2025
